Pilgrimages in Europe
Your pilgrimage begins in the city of Burgos, Spain where is located its magnificent cathedral which is an evidence of the flamboyant Spanish Gothic. You will discover its history and its many masterpieces; paintings, stalls, stained glass, etc. You will then take the direction of Santiago de Compostela, a city with a magnificent architectural heritage listed as a historical monument.
A 5-hour coach trip will take you to Portugal. There you will discover the city of Batahla known for the monastery of Santa Maria. A few kilometers, you will pass to Nazaré, a small town on the coast of Portugal. A spot that surfers enjoy a lot for its massive waves. The visit of the sanctuary of Fatima will be done later; the Chapel of the Apparitions and the basilica where François, Jacinthe and Lucie are buried.
Back in Spain with the sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe, you will participate in various activities offered by the sanctuary. Departure for Avila, the city of St. Teresa which is nicknamed the city of stones and saints. Visit of Salamanca, a World Heritage Site of Unesco and where St. Theresa began writing the Book of Foundations in 1573 in the convent that she founded three years earlier and where, as a young monk, John of the Cross was educated.
Direction to the Escorial Monastery, Philip II had the Escorial built to commemorate the capture of Saint-Quentin, whose church had been damaged during the siege. The trip continues to Madrid. You will have time to visit the Spanish capital and discover its most famous monuments.
Visit of the city of Zaragoza; its streets constitute an impressive monumental heritage, where Romans, Muslims, Jews and Christians left their mark. You can admire the remains of Roman civilization such as the circus, the palace of Aljafería, Mudejar-style churches (listed as World Heritage by UNESCO), jewels of the Baroque as the Basilica of Pilar, the work of Francisco de Goya. Visit the Abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat, an autonomous Benedictine abbey located on the Montserrat mountain range in Catalonia.
Your pilgrimage is coming to an end, Lourdes is your ultimate destination. We start by visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, created in 1883 by the architect Leopold Hardy, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary was consecrated in 1901 while the buildings were completed in 1889. It can shelter up to 1500 faithful and makes the Hautes-Pyrénées a meeting place for pilgrims from all over the world. Then we will go to the Grotto. To the right of the Basilica, you will pass under the Arcades. An image of Christ is under each arcade.
